Fugitive Father and Children Spotted in New Zealand Wilderness After Three-Year Disappearance

Tom Phillips and his three children, missing since 2021, were recently seen by hunters, sparking renewed efforts by police to locate them.

Tom Phillips, who fled with his children Jayda, Maverick, and Ember in December 2021, was recently spotted in the North Island bushland of New Zealand.
The family was seen by pig hunters, marking the first confirmed sighting of all four since their disappearance nearly three years ago.
Phillips, who does not have legal custody of the children, has evaded police despite multiple sightings and a significant reward for information.
Authorities suspect Phillips has been receiving help to survive in the wilderness, and they have warned the public not to approach him as he may be armed.
The children's mother expressed relief at the sighting, while police continue to prioritize the safe return of the children to their family.